DUI statistics 08-02-04

MEDIA RELEASE

During the week of July 26-August 1, 2004, Big Island police arrested 13 motorists for drunk driving. Five of the drivers were involved in traffic crashes and four were under the age of 21.

So far this year, there have been 607 DUI arrests, compared to 564 during the same period last year, an increase of 8 percent. The numbers of arrests by district were:

DUI Arrests by District

District

Weekly Total

Year to Date

Hamakua

0

10

North Hilo

0

5

South Hilo

7

173

Puna

0

75

Ka’u

0

11

Kona

5

280

South Kohala

0

41

North Kohala

1

12

Island Total

13

607

There have been 1,421 major accidents so far this year, compared to 1,331 during the same period last year, an increase of 7 percent.

There have been 25 traffic fatalities on the Big Island so far this year, compared to 16 for the same period last year, an increase of 56 percent. There have been seven fatalities attributed to drunk driving so far this year, compared to six at this time last year, an increase of 17 percent. There have been six drug-related fatalities so far this year, compared to three fatalities at the same time last year, an increase of 100 percent.